Most figured Giovanni Trapattoni wasn’t long for Ireland after Friday’s 6-1 home loss Germany, but if there was any doubt, news that the 73-year-old Italian will skip tomorrow’s post-break press conference leaves little doubt:

At the end of the tweet, Palmeri, an Italy-based soccer journalist, alludes to today’s World Cup Qualifier at the Faroe Islands, a match that’s shaping up to be Trapattoni’s last. Though the former Juventus icon has restored some glory to Irish soccer during his five-year reign (qualifying the team for Euro 2012), he’s also been criticized for his stoic tactics. A conservative style helped stabilize the team in the years after his hire, but with the Irish looking more and more like sitting ducks against Europe’s best, there’s concern the team is no longer moving forward.

After a disappointing showing at Euro 2012, there were calls for Ireland to move on from Trapattoni, calls resisted by the FAI. After Friday’s embarrassment, there’s little support for retaining their boss beyond an expected victory at the Faroes.

That match (kicking off at 2:00 p.m. Eastern) is crucial to Ireland’s hopes of making Brazil 2014. As Friday showed, there’s little hope of besting Germany for the group’s automatic qualifying spot, but Ireland can still beat Sweden for second place, a slot that could send them into UEFA’s playoffs.

Even after losing to Germany, Ireland hasn’t lost much ground on the Sweded. The group’s playoff spot will likely be decided by the team’s two head-to-head meetings, giving the FAI incentive to solve their coaching problems as soon as possible.

Early, two candidates have emerged. As is required with any high profile job in the region, Harry Redknapp has been linked. While that would be a good move for Ireland, it’s unclear it would be a wise one for Redknapp, who still has reasonable expectations of slotting into the next big Premier League opening.

Then there’s the turnback the block candidate, Mick McCarthy, who coached the Irish from 1996 to 2002. More recently, McCarthy had a very successful run at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Though he was dismissed last season after a lopsided derby loss to West Bromwich Albion, Wolves’ subsequent collapse (from their already poor state) provided McCarty with some vindication.

McCarthy’s obviously the more realistic candidate, though if he were to replace Trapattoni, the appointment would re-start a cycle the Irish began five years ago. McCarthy’s presence would be stabilizing, his conservative approach providing some brief assurance after Friday’s demoralizing loss. But five, six years from now, will Irish soccer again lament their program isn’t something more? That’s what happened to McCarthy 10 years ago, and ignited by the Germany loss, that’s what’s happening to Trapattoni now.

If Trapattoni is replaced, Ireland needs to go in a different direction. McCarthy is not it. While it’s unclear the Irish are capable of playing a different way, they need to try. Else, might as well stick with Trapattoni.

Never mind all that: Harry Kane was healthy, and scored three goals as Spurs kept pace with group mates Real Madrid in filing a 3-0 win at APOEL Nicosia in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.

Kane said he was very proud of the side’s performance, as youngster Anthony Georgiou and seldom-used Georges-Kevin N’Koudou put in shifts in the win. From the BBC:

“We weren’t pleased with the first-half and a couple of chances could have gone the other way. We were more clinical and in the Champions League that is what you have got to be.

“We are missing a few players but the lads who stepped in were fantastic. We have a solid squad and you have to be ready. 3-0 away in the Champions League no matter who you play is a good result.”

Kane has 11 goals in September between club and country, and has six hat tricks in 2017. There may not be a finer big striker firing in Europe right now, and both England and Spurs will hope to ride him well into 2018.

A point from far from home is not the end of the world, but Liverpool will rue its missed chances in a 1-1 draw at Spartak Moscow in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.

Goalkeeper Artyom Rebrov had a stellar day for Spartak before being injured and then replaced by Aleksandr Selikhov, who was also strong for the Russians.

Fernando (not that one) scored a free kick for Spartak, while Philippe Coutinho bagged the equalizer that keeps the Reds ahead of Spartak on goal difference. Both sides are three points behind Sevilla.

Hugo Lloris flubbed an early clearance and was fortunate to see the back-bounding ball dribble wide of his left post.

Carlao could’ve given APOEL a surprise lead close to halftime but headed wide of the net from within 10 yards.

Kane nearly added an assist to his ledger at the start of the second half, but Son Heung-min just missed his effort wide of the frame.

He scored another goal anyway, and another one. Moussa Sissoko set Kane up for the second of the night, a relatively simple finish for the striker, and Kane completed his trio of goals when he headed Kieran Trippier‘s cross home.